With it looking unlikely to need to hit the "magic 40 points" mark this year it's a clear battle between the bottom 7 clubs as to who is going but what is not yet clear is which 3 of the 7 are on the way out of the EPL. Are some teams "to big to go down" ala Everton and Newcastle? Who form is desperately lacking? Might surprise you Brentford and Leeds at present, with each picking up only one point in the last five games, worse than anyone else in the bottom 7. Could games in hand be a huge bonus for Burnley and Everton to drag themselves out of it or will fixture congestion cause an issue? Bar ourselves I'd be worried if I was a fan of any of the teams below us: Brentford - I'd worry about as everyone below them has games in hand and they could find themselves 18'th without being able to do a thing about it by the time the fixtures even out over the next few weeks so there's a big problem for them there. Leeds - Personally I think Leeds are in a world of trouble with the rate they are conceding and with Bamford out I can't see Dan James scoring the goals they need, although in fairness they may get the new manager bounce and push clear but they need to get focused on the defensive side of the game and sharp. Everton - Do they have the right man in charge? Is Lampard the man to see them safe? I'm not sure he's a relegation fighter personally. With a load of loan players do they have the drive to want to fight it out with El Ghazi, DvdB and Alli all on loan, are they arsed? Yerry Mina, DCL, Godfrey out for the next 2-4 weeks and Davies out for the season as well... with one win in their last 9 (against Leeds) morale will be down. Burnley have hit a run of form and are picking up points recently, seasoned relegation battlers who know the fight they are in, honestly think they will stay up, especially with Weghost up top, he will get them a few precious goals and they are solid at the back. Watford - They are only 4 and 5 points off Leeds and Brentford respectively with a game in hand on Brentford - Roy Hodgson coming in could be a masterstroke but not sure they have enough quality in the tank to pull clear, could make it out if the others fall apart, not much in it and they are still to play Everton, Leeds, Brentford and Burnley so not impossible. Norwich - Going, going...Gone? For me I think so. Perennial Yo-yo team who rely on Pukki to get the goals despite not doing it the last 2 times they came up... Can't see them picking up around 20 points in the their last 12 games. Would be one of the greatest escapes if they were to get out of the mire. So go on then, money where your mouth is, re-mortgaged the home who's your money on?
Norwich - I thought if they could have squeezed a point out of Southampton, they could have wrote the Liverpool and Man C games off. I think that third defeat on the bounce might knock their end in. Watford - They just seem to be one step forward, two steps back results wise. The profile of their players screams mercenary to me. Brentford - They just look in utter freefall. The early season buzz has gone, and the manager looks a bit all over the shop with no plan B. I think the reality of the PL has kicked in for them. I will say the rate at which Leeds are conceding goals, and the negative reports on Bamford and Phillips fitness. relegation has to be of massive concern. I'd also say Everton and Lampard I'm just not convinced with. I think Rafa has cream crackered them. They aren't used to this kind of fight and he's left them in a hell of state. Selling Digne too was a big blow. I reckon Burnley will be big enough and ugly enough to do what's required. They've got a bit of mongrel about them.
Norwich Watford Leeds - I think Brentford will have enough quality to make a late comeback with Erikson and Toney. Leeds look utterly terrible defensively.
Iv gone with Norwich, Brentford and Leeds We are not out of the woods yet but hopefully our 7 games unbeaten prove to be significant. I'll be shocked if we comfortably survive though. In fact, if we do I'll eat all remaining hats available. Everton football club do not do relegation - Nothing more needs to be said. Watford and Burnley will both get out of it IMO. They both know how to grind out clean sheets and nick 1-0 wins. That leaves Leeds and Brentford who are both are in freefall.
Norwich and Watford are certs for me. Neither has the necessary quality or qualities to survive. Third spot between Leeds and Brentford (although would love it, just love it if Everton went down) and would opt for Leeds as they simply leak goals for fun and way more than Brentford have been.
Norwich are gone I reckon. The other 2 places I think are between Brentford, Watford & Leeds. Watford have the stability of Hodgson but I'm not sure there's time for him to instill that in the team. Leeds and Brentford are sinking fast. If Leeds get their class players back they may be OK. Brentford have some quality coming back as well but terrible form and more games played than others
Norwich, Watford and Brentford. I think the new manager might give Leeds a boast, but Brentford are dire atm and don't look like turning it around.
Leeds are gone, they’ve employed Ted Lasso, seriously though Jesse Marsch is one ****ty appointment. No pedigree whatsoever as a player or a manager, almost ruined all the good work that Nagelsman done at RB Leipzig and got the bullet after a few months. A clusterfuck of an appointment, would’ve been better of trying to bring in Nigel Pearson
Did wonder about this. There's an outside chance it could work.....but far more likely it will go the way of Bob Bradley.
In an ideal world Everton and Leeds would go with Norwich as both of those have some good players who'd be upgrades on what we have that'd surely want to get out of relegated teams in a World Cup year. I'd take Richarlison, DCL and Gordon + a few others off Everton and at Leeds Bamford, Raphina, Phillips would be welcome additions.
